As the high school season nears, here is a look at the players we believe will make the biggest impact on the Kansas City and Wichita hoops scene. After evaluating 2009-10 performances as well as the accomplishments many of these players enjoyed over the summer, we have listed eight teams and honorable mentions for the 2010-11 season.

2011 AJ Spencer of SMNW

Kansas City (Kansas side) – In the past several years, Kansas has boasted big-time recruits such asIssac Miles (Murray State), Robert Lewandowski (Texas Tech), Denver Holmes (Evansville), Nino Williams and Will Spradling (Kansas State) and Trevor Releford (Alabama). This year will again feature a number of top prospects, with many on this Kansas list getting serious D1 attention from power conferences such as the Big 12, Big 10 and Pac 10. Kansas has certainly grown its reputation as a hoops community.

Willie Cauley is ranked as one of country's premiere big men

1st Team

Player of the Year – AJ Spencer

PG – Bennie Parker – 5’7″ Junior – Sumner Academy

SG – Tyler Kalinoski – 6’2″ Senior – Olathe East

SF – AJ Spencer – 6’4″ Senior – Shawnee Miss NW

PF – Semi Ojeleye – 6’6″ Sophomore – Ottawa

P – Willie Cauley – 6’10” Junior – Olathe Northwest

2nd Team

Soph Semi Ojeleye is considered a D1 major prospect

PG – DJ Cole – 5’11” Senior – Olathe South

SG – Tra’ Vaughan White – 5’10” Senior – Washington

SF – Colin Murphy – 6’6″ Junior – Basehor-Linwood

PF – Clint McCullough – 6’6″ Junior – St. James

P – Bubba Starling – 6’5″ Senior – Gardner-Edgerton

Bubba Starling will set career records for points and rebounds at 5A Gardner-Edgerton

Note – Dominique Wilson would be represented on this team, but the talented 6’9″ PF who played at Piper HS in 2009 has transfered to a prep school in Maine (Maine Central Institute). He, along with Bret Comer who played his early career at BVNW, are two of the city’s best players who have moved to schools outside of the state. Comer plays with Austin Rivers at Winter Park HS (FL) and has committed to Florida Atlantic and Coach Mike Jarvis.

3rd Team

Davis Reid was named to The Joy of the Game All-American Academic Showcase team

Probably the best big man in Kansas City, David Kravish has committed to Cal for 2012 (Photo by Julie Scheidegger LS Journal)

Kansas City (Missouri) – The top five in Missouri could make-up a good Division One college team. And though there is no Alec Burks (Colorado/Big 12 Newcomer of the Year) or Daylen Robinson (Moberly JC and DiRenna winner), there is a strong crop of talent throughout the metro that should make for an interesting season and a difficult job for selection of all-district/all-state teams.

1st Team

Player of the Year – David Kravish

Jevon Lyle will play at Northern Iowa next year

PG – Corey Hilliard – 6’1″ Senior – Raytown South

SG – Jevon Lyle – 6’4″ Senior – O’Hara

SF – Ishmael Wainwright – 6’6″ Sophomore – Ray South

PF – Denton Koon – 6’8″ Senior – Liberty

P – David Kravish – 6’9″ Senior – Lee’s Summit North

2nd Team

PG – RJ Leverette – 5’11” Senior – Grandview

SG – Zach Large – 6’3″ Junior – Truman

SF – Dominique Washington – 6’6″ Senior – Hogan Prep

PF – Dan Tapko – 6’5″ Senior – Rockhurst

P – Dillon Deck – 6’8″ Senior – Smithville

Note – Tyler Rambo would be represented on this team, but the 6’5″ swing has transferred to Humble Christian Life Prep (TX) to join Raytown’s Frank Williams, who had signed with Detroit but then headed to prep school.

3rd Team

Dominique Washington led Hogan Prep to the state championship game last year

Wichita – The 2012 class in Wichita may be the city’s best ever and the overall talent will provide for a very competitive City League. Wichita Heights probably features the most talent and will be seeking its 3rd consecutive 6A state title, with a team largely in-tact from 2009-10 as well as one of the country’s top big men.

1st Team

Player of the Year – Perry Ellis

Wichita's first team is loaded with talent including Ellis, Thurman, Wessel and Jackson

PG – Ja’ln Williams – 6’0 Senior – Wichita East

SG – Evan Wessel – 6’3″ Senior – Wichita Hghts

SF – Nate Jackson – 6’5″ Junior – Wichita East

PF – Perry Ellis – 6’8″ Junior – Wichita Hghts

P – Gavin Thurman – 6’7″ Junior – Wichita SE

2nd Team

We are unsure of Dreamius Smith’s status for his senior season but believe he will not play for Heights. The tough PG would be on our list if playing.

Pratt's Micah Swank (right), with his brother and coaching dad, will be one of the state's leading scorers

If you know players we should see play, email us at kcprephoops@gmail.com and give us the details. In the subject line, use Attention Dave if you are in Wichita and Attention Joel if in the Kansas City area.

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About kcprephoops

Following Kansas City high school basketball and area basketball teams, players and alumni in Kansas City and its surrounding hoops communities. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/kcprephoops or email us at kcprephoops@gmail.com

We like DJ Jackson alot but saw Winn take over some games in AAU this summer. He also had big scoring year as a soph at Truman. We project him as a PG in college. We think you could take either one of these guys and be good.

Wichita list seems to be a Pump n’ Run, Mo-Kan biased list. Cameron Cornelius and EJ Dobbins Should not just be “players to watch”. Specifically Cameron C. He can easily replace anyone on the 2nd team and can replace a few on the first team as well. Guess no one realizes what type of player he is. Cameron was MVP and a first team selection of his Div last year and also voted 6th top player in the area according to VYPE magazine…Oh, and not to mention being named as an All-State honorable mention. There’s just not enough love for kids all because they didn’t play for pump or mo-kan. So glad that others do give them their due.

This list has a glaring omission. Tra’vaughn White from Washington in KCK averaged close to 30 points a game, yet he is not on the list. There are two other players on his team listed, Kalen Allen and Rakim McCoy, but he is the best player on the team. This young man is a top guard in the Metro and receiving D1 attention, so check him out and give him some recognition.

On the Kansas side you are missing the best point guard in Kansas. Several Ivy League offers and strong D1 looks from WSU and Northern Iowa. Adam Hasty at Ottawa. He is 5′ 11″ not 5′ 9″ and the last I saw has put on about 15 lbs of muscle.

Going to be a good year for the cyclones. Otherwise the list is very good.